From Tayuan, Tayoan, or other variants, tai meaning "sea" and oan meaning "people" in Siraya (a Formosan language used on the southwestern part of the island). Recorded in Dutch records as "Tayouan" (and other variants), and in Chinese as 大員／大员 (and other variants).[1] The term initially referred to a sandy peninsula in the area of modern-day Anping District, Tainan, and eventually became the name of the entire island. See 臺灣／台湾 (Táiwān).